A Summer’s Tale

A Summer’s Tale

Year: 1996

Runtime: 114 mins

Language: French

Director: Éric Rohmer

ComedyRomanceDrama

While waiting for his girlfriend Léna to arrive at the Breton seaside resort of Dinard, Gaspard strikes up friendships—and heavy flirtations—with two other women: the personable ethnology student Margot and the alluring local Solène. Their involvement creates a tangled love triangle that complicates matters when Léna finally shows up.

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Timeline & Setting – A Summer’s Tale (1996)

Explore the full timeline and setting of A Summer’s Tale (1996). Follow every major event in chronological order and see how the environment shapes the story, characters, and dramatic tension.

Time period

Location

Dinard, Ouessant

Dinard is a seaside resort town on the Brittany coast where Gaspard spends his summer holiday. The story also takes the characters to Ouessant, a rugged island at Brittany's edge known for maritime life and lighthouses. The coastal setting provides a backdrop for walks, sailing, and conversation as music and relationships unfold.

🌊 Seaside town 🗺️ Brittany locale ⚓ Maritime culture

Last Updated: December 04, 2025 at 15:27

Main Characters – A Summer’s Tale (1996)

Meet the key characters of A Summer’s Tale (1996), with detailed profiles, motivations, and roles in the plot. Understand their emotional journeys and what they reveal about the film’s deeper themes.

Gaspard (Melvil Poupaud)

A mathematics graduate and musician who spends the summer in Dinard. He is introspective and indecisive about relationships, juggling his on-again/off-again girlfriend Léna and other affections. His music becomes a way to process his feelings, culminating in a sea shanty inspired by local maritime stories.

🎵 Musician 💭 Introspective 💘 Romantic

Margot (Amanda Langlet)

A cheerful waitress with a PhD in ethnology who interviews Bretons in her spare time. She forms a close friendship with Gaspard and offers honest, sometimes challenging, guidance about love and commitment. Her research curiosity and kindness pull her into his dilemma as he flirts with multiple possibilities.

💬 Insightful 🧭 Ethnologist 🎨 Compassionate

Léna (Aurelia Nolin)

Gaspard's long-distance girlfriend who reappears with mixed signals. She is moody and distant, yet capable of rekindling interest, complicating Gaspard's choices. Her return triggers tension as he contemplates whether to pursue her or move on.

💔 Complicated 🌍 Long-distance 💬 Direct

Solène (Gwenaëlle Simon)

A sensual, confident woman who just came out of two short romances and invites Gaspard on a sailing trip. She shows interest in his music and becomes a tempting option, challenging his ability to commit. Her straightforward nature pushes him toward a more honest connection with Margot.

💃 Confident ⚓ Adventurous 🎭 Romantic

Uncle (Alain Guellaff)

Owner of the boat that Solène borrows for the Ouessant trip and a backdrop for casual maritime life. He embodies the practical side of seafaring and family ties that surface in the story.

🛥️ Boat-owner 👪 Family

Aunt (Evelyne Lahana)

Solène's relative who appears in the family circle and anchors the local, close-knit coastal community atmosphere that frames the characters' conversations and plans.

👪 Family 🧭 Community

Newfoundlander (Aimé Lefèvre)

A man in La Rochelle who offers Gaspard an irresistible deal on recording equipment, presenting a tempting escape from his relationship dilemmas.

🧰 Opportunity 🗺️ Travel

Cousin (Franck Cabot-David)

A cousin figure mentioned as part of the cast, contributing to the social circle present in Dinard's summer scenes and local gatherings.

👪 Family 🎉 Social

Accordionist (Yves Guérin)

A street musician who appears in the bar scene, adding to the coastal town atmosphere and providing a live soundtrack backdrop to the characters' evenings.

🎶 Street music 🏖️ Atmosphere

Last Updated: December 04, 2025 at 15:27

Major Themes – A Summer’s Tale (1996)

Explore the central themes of A Summer’s Tale (1996), from psychological, social, and emotional dimensions to philosophical messages. Understand what the film is really saying beneath the surface.

💘 Love & Commitment

Gaspard's indecision drives the narrative, as he juggles three women and contemplates a future with one of them. The double-booking on the Ouessant trip exposes his fear of commitment and desire for freedom. Margot's honesty forces him to confront what he truly wants, even as he drifts toward different possibilities. The ending leaves his romantic path unresolved, highlighting the fragility of new love.

🎶 Music & Creation

Gaspard's blues background meets maritime folklore as he writes a sea shanty inspired by stories from a local fisherman. The sea and coastal life become a muse, guiding his melodies and reshaping his confidence. Margot's ethnographic curiosity feeds dialogue and mood as his music finds a voice. The soundtrack anchors the film's emotional shifts.

🌊 Maritime World

Dinard's harbor and Ouessant's island setting frame the story with salt air and nautical rhythm. The fisherman's house, the bar, and the sailing trip reveal a coastal culture built on tradition and sea lore. The voyage tests relationships as the sea's vastness mirrors the characters' uncertainties. The final scenes weave with the sea's mood, underscoring the film's tidal emotional currents.

Last Updated: December 04, 2025 at 15:27

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Narrative Summary

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Why These Movies?

This grouping is defined by a shared structure: a talkative, low-intensity pace where dialogue is the main driver of character development. The movies possess a moderate complexity from exploring internal dilemmas and relationships, with a medium emotional weight that feels authentic and grounded.

Unlock the Full Story of A Summer’s Tale

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A Summer’s Tale Summary

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A Summer’s Tale Summary

A Summer’s Tale Timeline

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A Summer’s Tale Timeline

A Summer’s Tale Spoiler-Free Summary

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A Summer’s Tale Spoiler-Free Summary

More About A Summer’s Tale

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